BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2013 – When 17 Pit Bulls were taken last month during a raid on a suspected drug dealer’s Middleboro home—along with stolen guns, drugs and thousands of dollars in cash—little did rescuers know that one of the dogs, now named “Hennessey,” was about to give birth. The sweet-natured five-year-old delivered her puppies on Oct. 26 at the Middleboro animal control facility, and soon after the family was transferred to the MSPCA-Angell adoption center in Jamaica Plain.

The four-week-old puppies, four females and two males, are thriving at the shelter along with their mom. And, as adoption center manager Alyssa Krieger explained, the puppies even gained a step-brother. “Upon Hennessey and the puppies’ arrival we were bottle-feeding a young puppy who was too young to have been separated from his mother—and he just wasn’t thriving. We introduced him to Hennessey and, to our delight, she immediately accepted him as part of her brood.”

It's a pile of puppies at the MSPCA-Angell after Hennessey and her brood arrived (credit: MSPCA-Angell)

Home for the Holidays

All seven puppies will be made available for adoption beginning Sunday, Dec. 21. Hennessey will be spayed and returned home to a family member not connected to the investigation. Krieger maintains that this is the best option for her. “Hennessey has shown herself to be a wonderful mother and her puppies will make excellent pets as a result of her great care. But she’s still haunted by her previous experience and we’re grateful that a caring family member, who Hennessey already knows, has opened their home to her.”

Anyone interested in adopting one of the puppies can contact the adoption center directly at adoption@mspca.org.

The MSPCA-Angell’s three state-wide animal care and adoption centers take in, and place into new homes, thousands of homeless dogs, cats and other animals every year. Petunia represents just one of the many animals who arrive every day—and whose futures are brighter as a result of the care they receive. Readers can contribute directly toward the care of these animals by clicking here.

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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions from individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mspcaangell